Ecuador recommends getting vaccinated against yellow fever if you visit Amazonian provinces, where to do it?

Yellow fever is an acute, hemorrhagic viral disease that is endemic in tropical areas of Africa and Latin America. It is often difficult to differentiate between cases of yellow fever and other viral hemorrhagic fevers such as arenavirus, hantavirus, or dengue.

It is transmitted by the bite of an infected type of mosquito that has previously bitten a sick person. There are two cycles or forms of transmission: jungle (Haemagogus spp. and Sabethes spp.) and urban (Aedes aegypti).

It is not spread through personal contact, objects, or breast milk. Although anyone can get yellow fever, children and older adults are at higher risk of complications.

The jungle zone of the Amazon region of Ecuador: Orellana, Sucumbíos, Pastaza, Napo, Morona Santiago, Zamora Chinchipe, as well as the coastal province of Esmeraldasare considered at risk and endemic for the circulation of the yellow fever virus.

Nevertheless, the country has not reported new cases of yellow fever since March 2017.

Symptoms

The symptoms of this disease appear 3 to 6 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.

In an initial phase it causes fever, muscle pain and headache, chills, loss of appetite and nausea or vomiting.

For most patients these symptoms disappear after 3 to 4 days. However, 15% enter a second, more toxic phase within 24 hours of initial remission. In this phase, the high fever returns and various body systems are affected. Kidney function deteriorates.

Half of the patients who enter the toxic phase die within 10-14 days.the remainder recover without significant organ damage.

Treatment and vaccination

There is no specific treatment for yellow fever. The vaccine is the most important preventive measure and it is safe, affordable and highly effective. Vaccine protection begins 10 days after application and provides effective immunity within 30 days for 99% of vaccinated persons.

The yellow fever vaccine is part of the Regular Vaccination Scheme of the Ministry of Public Health (MSP). For this reason, vaccination continues in its health centers nationwide.

The immunizer is applied free of charge from twelve months of lifeis vaccinated only once and the immunized person is given the international credential.

This international certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is issued in more than 270 health establishments in the country. For example, in zone 8 (Guayaquil, Durán, Samborondón), you can go to the international vaccinationlocated on Julián Coronel and Pedro Menéndez Gilbert avenues, in the center-north of the city.

Vaccine Precautions

• It is recommended to individually assess the epidemiological risk of contracting the disease against the risk of an adverse event occurring in people over 60 years of age who have not previously been vaccinated.
• The vaccine can be offered to asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals with CD4+ counts ≥ 200 cells/mm³ who require vaccination.
• Pregnant women should be vaccinated in an epidemiological emergency situation and following the express recommendations of the health authorities.
• Vaccination is recommended for lactating women living in endemic areas, since the risk of transmitting the vaccine virus to the child is less than the benefits of breastfeeding.
• For pregnant or lactating women traveling to areas with yellow fever transmission, vaccination is recommended when travel cannot be avoided.

The yellow fever vaccine is contraindicated in people with history of hypersensitivity to chicken egg and its derivativesas well as in immunosuppressed individuals (including those with disorders of the thymus, symptomatic HIV, malignancies being treated, immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory therapies, recent transplants, current or recent radiation therapy). (YO)